Evaluation of conifer and broad-leaved barriers in intercepting particulate matters in a wind tunnel

Fugitive dust is an important source of particulate matters (PM) emission in the air. Vegetation barriers (VBs) can be an effective way to mitigate PM from fugitive dust sources. It is meaningful to choose appropriate plants to establish VBs that can efficiently capture PM from various sources. This study was conducted to establish comparable and repeatable conditions to evaluate the capability of different VB species in mitigating PM emission from certain fugitive dust source. The airflow around two VBs and their PM interception mechanism was studied in a wind tunnel with simulated PM emission source of animal feeding operations. The species used for the two VBs were conifers represented by Pinus Sylvestris var. mongolica Litv. (PS) and the broad-leaved species represented by Syringa Oblate Lindl. (SOL). The results showed that the interception efficiency of the PS vegetation barrier was only slightly lower than that of SOL vegetation, while the PS had a lower effect on the wind speed at the similar leaf surface area. On the other hand, there were a large number of disordered ridged stripes on the microscopic structure of the hydrophilic leaves of SOL and PS, and a large amount of fine particles deposited on the leaves were observed, indicating that the microscopic geometric surface structure increased the deposition efficiency of the particles. These findings help to better understand the potential of tree species to reduce PM in environments. Implications: To evaluate the capability of different VB species in mitigating PM emission from certain fugitive dust source, airflow around the two VBs and their PM interception mechanisms were studied in wind tunnels with comparable and repeatable conditions. The results showed that the interception efficiency of the Pinus Sylvestris var. mongolica Litv. (PS) was only slightly lower than that of the Syringa Oblate Lindl. (SOL) vegetation, while the PS had a lowering effect on the wind speed at the same low leaf surface area. Microscopic analysis of leaves surface indicated that the microscopic characteristics increased the deposition efficiency of the particles.